I read Lester del Rey's Sci-Fi writings as a kid, about the same time I was discovering Heinlein and Asimov [French]. I was at the right age, at the right time. This was long before I discovered deconstructionism, the tenents of New Criticism, along with Saussarian and Derridian sign/signifier theories couched deep within the metaphysics of language theory and semiotics. It was a time of high adventure, a time when whole cities hovered miles above the earth[James Blish]; when space ships spent centuries travelling the uncharted regions of space [A. E. Van Vogt]; when the simple things in life could have profound meanings, especially when the those words came from shapes quite different than ours [Clifford D. Simak]. It was also a time, shortly thereafter, when the poetics of language soared with wings into new worlds and new sensibilities of meaning [Ray Bradbury]. It was, for me, an age of innocence, discovery, and sheer fun.

A few years ago, I was lucky enough to find an original typescript of a short story by Lester del Rey - one that is NOT a carbon copy, I might add.

Here's a quote about the book:

"Often better-remembered for his short fiction, Lester del Rey's novels are fast-paced stories that capture the true spirit of 1950's, "Golden Age" science fiction -- stories that attracted so many young readers during their time. Police Your Planet is set on a future Mars where cities are built fast, slums are endemic, and crime is rampant. This is a Mars with cheap grifters, unwashed bums, and "Marsweed" -- smoke it fast, before it kills you! Police Your Planet is pulp fiction for the rocket ship generation -- more back alley action than space-ship battles. Lester Del Rey's fast-paced story gives the same thrills today as it did when it first fell into the hands of its young, enthusiastic readers."

This is the way they wrote them in the early years, not so long ago, in a world quite different than today.

Thanks for all the comments on this. I know what it means to put YET another book at the top of one's reading list. There are so many books to read, and not just on the Reader.

I also want to read these new books by Haruki Murakami (his two latest books), John Updike, Bonato [spell?], and Pynchon's newest book which is sitting on my coffee table right now.
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True, this title is available from Gutenberg, but this copy that I manipulated to turn into a form that is acceptable came from CC, so I thought I would acknowledge that.

Yeah, that Police is a PG title originally (says so in the text, or as much as it can without, you know, using PG's trademarks in a modified text...)

Oh, and should add:

For Murakami, his first two books, Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973, are both better than what he's come out with lately. He hasn't agreed to let them be made available stateside, which is kinda weird, considering the translations were made and Pinball was the prequel to a Wild Sheep Chase, (Hear the Wind is something of a precursor to Norwegian Wood) but if you're not near a Kinkokuniya or the Wise Owl in Ikebukoro, ya can probably find both on the web...

Just agree to buy his next one, even if you vowed never to do that again after Kafka on the Shore...

I did read that , and loved it, but forgot to mention it because I don't own a First Edition. That's a wonderful book.

I actually read that before "The Wild Sheep Chase."

I'm just amazed by Murakami, by his metaphysics and also by the way he constructs his stories.

Every book he writes astounds me in some way.

Here's what really makes me sick to my gut: About 20 years ago, I had a hardback First Edition of "The Elephant Vanishes." I tried to read the first story and couldn't get into it, so it lanquished on my bookshelf. I eventually traded it to a friend for an obscure hack named A. Merritt [I'm joking!!!!] Anyway, I lament the loss of that book and always look for it locally here. I think I'll eventually buy it from a reputable used book dealer in M/M condition before it goes too far past the $100 mark.